Uganda
Uganda calls itself the Pearl of Africa, and a short trip shows why.
In one small country you can spend an hour with mountain gorillas in the mist of Bwindi, track chimpanzees in Kibale, watch hippos and elephants from a boat on the Kazinga Channel, stand at the edge of the Nile as it squeezes through Murchison Falls and raft the rapids below the river's source at Jinja. Most trips begin in Entebbe or Kampala, where a walking tour, a lakeside garden and a plate of rolex and grilled tilapia ease you into the country, and from there routes run west to the great parks and east to the Nile. This guide books Uganda properly: the gorilla permit and how it really works, chimpanzee and golden monkey tracking, game drives and boat trips, a walking safari with rhinos at Ziwa, a canoe trip for the shoebill, mountain hikes in the Rwenzori and at Sipi Falls, and the practical choices that make long road days manageable. It then matches you to a hotel, from Kampala and Entebbe to Jinja and the safari lodges at Murchison, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi, because in Uganda the right base saves hours on the road.
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Spend a strictly limited hour with a habituated family of mountain gorillas in the ancient, mist-hung forest of south-western Uganda. Permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and cost several hundred US dollars, so book well ahead. Uganda's signature wildlife experience.
Murchison Falls National Park Safari
Uganda's largest national park combines savanna game drives with one of the most powerful waterfalls on earth, where the whole Nile squeezes through a gap a few metres wide. Look for elephants, giraffes, lions, hippos and crocodiles.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park
Track habituated chimpanzees through the tropical forest of Kibale National Park, the best place in East Africa for primates. Add the Bigodi swamp walk, crater lakes and tea country around Fort Portal.
White-Water Rafting on the Nile
Raft the powerful rapids of the White Nile below Jinja, one of the best white-water stretches in the world, in a full-day adventure with safety kayakers, a riverside lunch and a calm float between the big drops.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Spend a strictly limited hour with a habituated family of mountain gorillas in the ancient, mist-hung forest of south-western Uganda. Permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and cost several hundred US dollars, so book well ahead. Uganda's signature wildlife experience.
Uganda's smallest national park sits on the slopes of three Virunga volcanoes in the far south-west. Track gorillas, meet rare golden monkeys in the bamboo and climb a volcano, all within a few kilometres of the Rwanda and Congo borders.
Uganda's largest national park combines savanna game drives with one of the most powerful waterfalls on earth, where the whole Nile squeezes through a gap a few metres wide. Look for elephants, giraffes, lions, hippos and crocodiles.
Cruise upstream on the Nile from Paraa through herds of hippos and past elephants drinking at the bank, to the foot of the thundering falls, then climb to the top for the view into the gorge. The best two things in the park, in one day.
A varied park of savanna, crater lakes, forest and wetlands in western Uganda. Game drives for elephants, buffalo and lions, tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector and a chimpanzee gorge walk, all under the Rwenzori mountains.
A relaxed boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, with one of the densest hippo populations in Africa, buffalo and elephants at the water's edge and a long list of waterbirds. The best-value wildlife experience in western Uganda.
Track habituated chimpanzees through the tropical forest of Kibale National Park, the best place in East Africa for primates. Add the Bigodi swamp walk, crater lakes and tea country around Fort Portal.
Stand where Lake Victoria begins its journey to the Mediterranean, take a short boat trip to the spot where the river leaves the lake and explore Jinja, East Africa's adventure town, on a day trip from Kampala.
Raft the powerful rapids of the White Nile below Jinja, one of the best white-water stretches in the world, in a full-day adventure with safety kayakers, a riverside lunch and a calm float between the big drops.
Drift down the warm, gentle channels of the Nile on an inflated inner tube, with a guide, life jacket and a few splashy rapids. A relaxed alternative to rafting that most ages and fitness levels can enjoy.
Walk within metres of southern white rhinos at Uganda's only rhino sanctuary, on the road between Kampala and Murchison Falls. A rare chance to see rhinos on foot, with trained rangers and a conservation story to match.
Take a boat from Entebbe across Lake Victoria to a forested island sanctuary for orphaned chimpanzees. Watch feeding time from a viewing platform, learn about rescue and rehabilitation and enjoy a lake cruise along the way.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$Central Kampala
A large international-brand hotel in central Kampala, close to the business district and the main roads out of the city. A dependable base for a first night in the capital, with restaurants, a gym and the reliability of a global chain.
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$$$$Nakasero
A long-established luxury hotel in Kampala's Nakasero district, with landscaped grounds, a pool and spa and a calm, garden feel above the traffic. A classic choice for a comfortable first or last night in the capital.
Check rates →Munyonyo (Lake Victoria)
A lakeside resort on the shore of Lake Victoria at Munyonyo, a short drive south-east of central Kampala. Gardens, a marina, a beach area and plenty of facilities make it a good choice for a resort-style stay.
Check rates →Entebbe
A lakeside hotel in Entebbe, close to the airport and the shores of Lake Victoria. A practical, comfortable choice for arrival and departure nights, with a pool, restaurant and easy transfers.
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$$Entebbe (lakeshore)
A large resort-style hotel on the Lake Victoria shore in Entebbe, with a beach area, pool, restaurants and gardens. A relaxed option close to the airport for travellers who want some lakeside leisure.
Check rates →Jinja (Nile view)
A resort-style hotel above the River Nile near Jinja, with gardens, a pool, river views and easy access to rafting, tubing and the Source of the Nile. A relaxed base for the adventure capital of Uganda.
Check rates →Paraa (Murchison Falls National Park)
A classic safari lodge on the banks of the Nile inside Murchison Falls National Park, close to the boat launch for the falls cruise. Pool, river views and wildlife on the doorstep make it the traditional base for the park.
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$$$$Mweya Peninsula (Queen Elizabeth National Park)
A famous lodge on the Mweya Peninsula in Queen Elizabeth National Park, with sweeping views over the Kazinga Channel, a pool and roaming wildlife. The classic base for game drives and boat cruises in western Uganda.
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$$$Bwindi
A forest-edge lodge near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, handy for gorilla trekking. Comfortable rooms, a restaurant and views over green hills make it a practical base for the early start to a trek.
Check rates →What to book first in Uganda, how gorilla and chimpanzee permits work, how to get around from Kampala and Entebbe, how many days to allow and where the main parks and sights fit.
Where to base yourself in Uganda: Kampala neighbourhoods, lakeside Entebbe, riverside Jinja and the safari lodges at Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi, with tips on matching lodging to your route.
A practical seven-day Uganda itinerary from Entebbe: a day on the Nile at Jinja, a safari at Queen Elizabeth National Park, gorilla trekking at Bwindi and a night at Lake Mburo on the way back.
A guide to Ugandan food and drink: the rolex street snack, matoke, groundnut sauce, grilled tilapia, luwombo, local coffee, beer and waragi, with tips on where to eat in Kampala, Entebbe and Jinja.
When to visit Uganda: the two dry seasons and two rainy seasons, how weather affects gorilla trekking, safaris and rafting, and how to plan around crowds, prices and permits.
How primate trekking works in Uganda: Bwindi and Mgahinga gorillas, chimpanzees in Kibale and Kyambura, permit basics, fitness, packing, rules and how to choose a sector and an operator.
